Designing Your Native Plant Landscape 2

A Multi-Part Series for the Home Gardener

Step 2- Fix the problems and dream big!

Did everyone do their SITE SURVEY last month? I spent hours tracing and making adjustments.

My printer conked out so I had to make copies by hand! Ah, well, nothing a glass or two of wine

and a good movie in the background can’t help! I want to stress the need to have multiple, nay,

multitudes of copies! The idea is to be able to come up with different ways to fix existing

problems as well as explore multiple options of designs, especially if you don’t have a clear idea

of what you want the final product to look like.

Today we are going to take the site SURVEY from last month and transfer the markings to a new

copy. (Fig 1) This new copy becomes your site ANALYSIS. On this copy, begin to fix the

problems notated on the site survey. For example, let’s say we need to add some privacy along

the North side of the yard. Currently there is a big open space along the fence between us and

the neighbors, and I’d like to put in some medium sized shrubs to add some privacy. I’m not

thinking about which shrubs I’m putting in yet, that comes later. I’m adding in some general

shapes to block out the space. (Fig 2) I also want to fill in the low spot to the left of the leaching

field where a shed used to stand. We will move the firepit down to that space. Where the firepit

is now will be my new greenhouse (YAY!!) Do you see where I’m going here? The idea is to

add in general shapes for plantings, structures, pathways, no matter how far down the line these

installations might happen. In fact, I might recommend drawing up two or more of these

analysis plans, one being a bit dreamier than the other. You never know when you are going to

land on something that fits perfectly. Remember, this copy is supposed to look like a hot mess.

Add, erase, add more. Overlap shapes where appropriate, taking into account tree canopy, decks,

fence lines, ect.

Fig 1- Complete Site Survey

 Fig 2- 1st Site Analysis with rough draw ins

As you can see in Figure 2, I’ve added in all kinds of new plant beds, general pathways, a

seating area, and small shrubs in the front yard. Shade shrubs and plantings will fill in the north

side of the house, and various beds will fill in around the GREENHOUSE!!! I’ve added in the

deck we are saving for, added privacy shrubs along the north fence line, and continued around

the yard. In the area that I marked as a low spot in figure 1, I am going to fill it in and move the

firepit to that area. Once I’ve added all my needs and wants, I filled in the empty areas as

“lawn.” Remember, we aren’t thinking about the type of plants going in, but I do already know

that my goal is to have a “turf-free” lawn, so sedges and strawberries are certainly in my future

plans. Do you see the differences from the first to the second picture? There should be no space

unaccounted for. If a space is meant to be open lawn, draw in a big shape and mark it as lawn!

Put whatever beds you want where you want them, nothing is set in stone here!

Take your time and fill out at least a couple different versions. I’m going to play around with

where I want to put my seating area. I live on a busy street so I might put the seating area further

back near the court and add more pollinator beds around the front. I missed putting in the cold

frames in that open space along the north fence, but then, if I have a greenhouse, I might not use

those. Maybe a few raised beds for some veggies would work there. The south side of the house

is a bit squished, so it is hard to put any kind of detail in there. I think I might add a large trellis

on that side of the house for some much-needed shade in the summer, and I’d like to put a small

shed behind the dog park. Next month, we are going to start digging into the details. Scale is really going to come into play so don’t feel bad if you need to blow up the size of your drawing. I plan on really expanding my survey over a couple of sheets taped together. More on that later! Have fun dreaming!